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[Pettifogger]

Make yourself a little wooden stand to set the revolver in when loading.  For a lefty this will make life a lot easier.  90%+ of success in shooting C&B is properly fitted nipples and caps.  For years the standard has been Treso nipples and Remington #10s.  Slix nipples are now getting a loyal following, agian with Remington #10 caps.  I use a piece of deer antler as a pusher.  On a properly fit nipple/cap setup once the cap is deposited on the nipple by a capper, not your fingers, as you push on the cap you can feel the cap sliding down the cone and the cap seating.  Doesn't take a lot of pressure, but the caps also cannot be to loose.  Never pinch a loose cap to make it fit.  Get the correct size caps for your nipples and you will be amazed at how reliable a C&B can be.  As you fire more and more rounds seating the cap will be more difficult, but you should still be able to feel when the cap is seated.  With stock nipples and poorly fitted caps I will say that the mainsprings in many late model Uberti C&Bs are to weak.  They appear to be the same springs they put in their cartridge guns and for many cap set-ups this is to light for relible ignition.

Cap pusher.  I'll see if I have a photo of a basic wooden stand.  (two pieces of wood screwed together with a notch for the hammer and cylinder to keep the gun from falling over.)



Found a photo.  This one is a little more elaborate because it has a holder for the flask.  All you need is the portion of the stand holding the gun.

[SimmerinLightning]

Yes I know what a loading stand is and that is one of several things I need to acquire. I will probably make one out of either scrap lumber or maybe some remnants from the woods. I also need, eventually, a flask/spout, a proper holster, and maybe a sack or pouch, for a possibles bag.

The caps I have presently are CCI #11's and they seem to fit pretty well. They don't deform when put on, and are pretty hard to get back off (no, I did that with an empty chamber).

I would like, at some point, to replace the nipples and have someone go through the guns and clean them up properly, but for now I will have to use them as is. I probably shouldn't have blown the money on caps and balls but hey, gotta have some fun...

[Coffinmaker]

Before we (the foregoing contributaters) 'again' begin our favorite pass-time of PILING ON    You just mentioned something of
MONUMENTAL importance.   

THE PRIME DIRECTIVE:   HAVE FUN !!!!   

Often, there are those who in pursuit of technical perfection, forget the original purpose in picking up a Cap Gun, is/was to HAVE FUN with the durn thing.  Why else get involved with something so abominably frustrating, uncooperative, mean spirited and just plain ..... FUN??
Ah, did I just describe a   a    a    a    Girl??  Oh my.  Now I've done it 

Anyay, take that thing out a play with it.  It WILL frustrate ya fer a while, but each improvement you make will get you closer to taming the Schrew  as it Twere!!

Coffinmaker

[Noz]

and just about the time you get her all figured out, she'll jump up and bite you on the butt!

[Lefty Dude]

They are like driving a Ford model "T". You drive slowly at first and with Caution, till ya get up to speed. Also carry spare parts, to Fix-Or- Repair- Daily.
I feel Blessed, I have a pair of 36's running now for over  Just a Year with out a hitch. Just clean, change the oil, and shoot.

[Montana Slim]

People at the range & matches always say they'd like to get into C&B...but find cleaning BP to be "highly objectionable" (I'm toning down the vulgarity for our PG rating to stay in effect). I always tell them..with honesty....that cleaning and maintaining, making my own lubes, cleaners, round balls, and bullets is just an added benefit, cause I find it just as fun as shooting them.

Slim

[Coffinmaker]

Lefty,

Kan't believe I'm admitting this, but I just finished setting up a set of 36's for my ownself.  Haven't shot em yet, but everything is looking
really good.  Even went out and acquired some brandy new cast bullets for em.
Actually, truth be known, this makes TWO sets of 36s for me.  Haven't fired either one of em yet.  Never fear, I'll get too it.  With 5 sets of
.44s (just the Snubbies) it takes a while to get through the pile

Cap Guns 'R' FUN!!

Coffinmaker

Plus - plus - plus - Real easy to clean

[Lefty Dude]

Ya shoot those .36's and the 44's will sit for quite a spell.
Lefty, one who loves is 36 Colt Navies.

[will52100]

I noticed you said "factory nipples"  That is the first thing I do on a new cap gun, change to Tresso nipples.  I have yet to see any factory nipples that are not junk or don't fit the standard cap sizes.  If I order a new cap gun, I order nipples for it and hopefully the nipples come at the same time or before the cap gun gets here.  I've seen factory nipples of different lengths, to where I didn't need a micrometer to see the difference.  And flash hole sizes all over the place.  And soft, soft steel to where they batter down and erode quite easily.  I use Tresso's and the fit a Remington #11 perfectly.  I did install a set on a second gen 1860 Colt recently and had to grind a couple though off the ends as the hammer wouldn't go down far enough with a cap seated to reset the action and allow the hammer to be worked and cylinder turned.  That was a first though.

Change your nipples, that will solve a lot of issues with a cap gun rite off the bat.

There may be issues with a light hammer spring, or with drag in the internals, but the fastest and most likely correct fix is decent nipples.

And I hammer seat all my cap guns.  I've hear the safety argument, but here's the thing.  If you hand seat you and you have a detonation you have the chamber out of battery and who know's where the ball is going to go, and your hands are mighty close to all that flame and ball going where ever.  If you hammer seat and you light the cap off, the chamber is in battery and the ball goes down and out the barrel like it's supposed to.  The hammer is the only thing designed to ignite and survive a cap detonation, and the barrel is the only thing designed for the ball to go down.  Just make sure your pointed down range in a safe direction.  I hook my thumb deep into the hammer when working the hammer/cycling the action, and have yet to have an accidental discharge that way. 

[Lefty Dude]

Hammer seating primers at our Club will get you a Match DQ very quickly.
Please tell us where you shoot, so we can avoid your area !

[will52100]

At my personal range out back.  The club I used to shoot at doesn't allow hammer seating either.  So I no longer shoot cap guns there.  I figure that's a lawsuit waiting to happen.

You can call it unsafe, but like in all things, use some bloody sense.  And to me it's a lot safer than seating out of battery.

[Thumb Buster]

If I may add something here about the caps not going off as they should...  My latest C&B is an 1861 Pietta and I had the same issue but it was a protruding arbor base sticking out so far it inhibited the hammers from making a full travel to the cylinder.  It was Dremel & cold blue time.  Now, it fires every time.

[hatman]

Thanks Coffinmaker-
here's the lovely foto of Cuts Crooked's left thumb:



"That's a picture of what's left of my thumb after a cap detonated under it while loading my old 58 Remington years ago."

from this thread
http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php/topic,1620.0.html

graphical and foto-graphical examples oft' hit home

hope this helps
prof marvel

Whoa! I'm sure glad I clicked on this <click> thread.
I'm new to c&b and did not realize this.
I'll be using a stick in the future and letting my buddies know about this.
Thanks!

[Montana Slim]

I use a capper to administer and seat my caps....presto!, done!.

One might postulate if pressing with the thumb set off the cap/charge?...I'd say no... absolutely not possible based on the pressure exerted.. So my "take" is that the charge went off for another reason...possible ember.. no matter for the outcome..and no, none of us want our thumb on a flame jet nozzle if it were to go off.

Slim

[Professor Marvel]

...
One might postulate if pressing with the thumb set off the cap/charge?...I'd say no... absolutely not possible based on the pressure exerted.. So my "take" is that the charge went off for another reason...possible ember..

Slim

Whilst you *did* put it nicely, I suggest you take that up Cuts Crooked, the man to whom the event occurred and whose thumb is pictured.

Cuts is the Moderator here on the Dark Arts.  I have known him via this and other web sites for many years and he has been shooting flintlock and caplock guns for a very long time.

If he says that's how it happened, you can take it to the bank.

yhs
prof marvel

[will52100]

And this is why I hammer seat the caps, with the muzzle pointed down range in a safe direction of course.  I use a capper to set the caps on the nipples, but that doesn't fully seat them.  The idea of an out of battery discharge scares the democrat out of me.

[Montana Slim]

Whilst you *did* put it nicely, I suggest you take that up Cuts Crooked, the man to whom the event occurred and whose thumb is pictured.

Cuts is the Moderator here on the Dark Arts.  I have known him via this and other web sites for many years and he has been shooting flintlock and caplock guns for a very long time.

If he says that's how it happened, you can take it to the bank.

yhs
prof marvel

I've spoken, in person, with CC on this topic, and we've exchanged comments on threads involving the subject....I'm sure he'll chime-in if he's feeling abused by my statements.

In my line of work, I've investigated many cases of "accidents", during a traumatic event, it can be confusing what actually happens....especially to the one most closely involved. Most of these involve firearm destruction, personal injury...plus cases of negligent discharge, court martial, etc....the list goes on.

My "work" is in the field of firearms and ammunition design/manufacture. about 28 years worth, plus my personal background in making ammunition and shooting black powder revolvers. -  about age 13.

Get your dowel, caps & pistol......and try setting a cap off (or a whole tin) by pressing on them. You can do this in the comfort of your home....Use an unloaded cylinder so you can go hard without holding back.

I am sure he had his thumb on...or very near the cap....I think all can agree on that, as will Cuts.

Slim

[will52100]

You've got a point. 

Many more years than I care to think about when I was first getting into cap guns, I tried to set a cap off with a pair of pliers.  Resulted in a mangled and squished cap.  Finally set it off on an anvil with a hammer.  I was about 12 or 13, and wasn't nearly the dumbest thing I've ever done.  In any event, I don't remember what the brand was, and wouldn't trust it not to go off because it didn't that time.  Doesn't matter if it's thumb pressure or not, something set the cap off and I don't want a body part near the jet of flame, or the ball going who knows where.

[Professor Marvel]

Hi Slim - point taken :-)
yhs
pm

[Montana Slim]

I should have added no offense taken, or offered....to anyone.

One other data point I did not mention...the "human factors" guys tell me that roughly 50 pounds is the threshold for even a "manly-man" to apply with his hands. Also that the "give" or cushion of our fingers will have affect on various scenarios.

I assume you-all have seen the picture of a service-member who used a .50BMG cartridge as a tap-hammer? You can guess which end was the hammer-head.  I won't post or suggest a link, but you might find it via google.
Must admit I was angry and sad when that report came in and several of us who are dads (& a mom) had tears.

Slim